George
Clooney, Madonna, Donatella Versace and Sir Richard
Branson all own or have owned villas on northern Italy's
idyllic Lake Como. Surrounded by roaming mountains that are dotted with
tiny pretty villages and offering breathtaking panoramic views, it's no wonder
this 28 mile-long, Y-shaped lake in Lombardy has always served as a tranquil
paradise for the rich and famous.
Some would say Lake Como was officially put on the map
in 2002 when Gravity star George Clooney bought an £8million
mansion in the lakeside village of Laglio, and now the handsome Hollywood actor
spends up to four months every year amid the locals at his luxury 30-room Villa
Oleandra. Sir Richard Branson is reportedly his neighbour, said to own the
sumptuous Villa La Cassinella in Lenno, a quaint village on the western side of
the lake – accessible only by private motor launch and available for hire with
a pricetag of €90,000 per week.
The beauty of
this picturesque setting which continues to draw in the celebrities is owed to
the unspoilt little villages that hug the shore, the beautiful villas in their
lush, green gardens, the mountainous hinterland (snow-capped even in late
spring) and the relaxed, courteous locals who welcome visitors with a
smile.
Como, the
capital of the province and regarded the silk capital of the world, is home to
some 80,000 residents and lies at one end of Italy's most popular lake. Built
around its magnificent duomo – regarded as one of the best examples of 'Gothic
Renaissance Fusion' – the bustling city has a cosmopolitan feel and wonderful
café culture filled with charming piazzas.
Visitors have
a range of pretty towns to choose from nestled in the hills of Lake Como. The
pretty town of Bellagio, known as the pearl of the lake, is situated where the
three branches of the lake come together. Here you'll also find The Grand Hotel
Villa Serbelloni, one of the oldest and most elegant hotels in the area and the
only 5 star de-luxe hotel in Bellagio.Villa d'Este occupies a pristine position
on the banks of the lake, in the village of Cernobbio on the west coast, and,
now a luxury hotel, is one of the most famous of Lake Como's villas.
Meanwhile,
the well-known and idyllic village of Tremezzo – situated near Lenno – is home
to Villa Balbianello, with its magnificent gardens and unmissable views. The
17th century Villa Carlotta is also found here. One of Lake Como's most visited
villas boasts an immense garden offering more than 500 species and varieties of
plants, trees and flowers including azaleas, rhododendrons and ancient cedars
and sequoias, as well as a masterpiece by famous Italian sculptor Canova.
Lake Como is an amazing backdrop for a romantic wedding in Italy!
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